Literacy has been an essential tool for the liberation and unity of oppressed communities. Education is arguably the one pathway that is used by many oppressed individuals as a way to be free from their own premeditated future. This is because through literacy one can start to think critically instead numbing the mind, which in turn, can inspire individuals to reflect deeply about their conditions and transform the world around them. However, many students are discouraged from learning due to their background and the harsh reality that they have had to face being marginalized people. Does internalized oppression have an impact on young readers by encouraging and/or discouraging them from being actively involved in literacy? I would argue that the two are inevitably interconnected. …show more content…
However, he argues that literacy is slowly becoming a luxury that isn’t being taken advantage of. We would much rather become mind-numb individuals rather that critical thinkers who challenge the dominant narrative. Hedges states, “We are a culture that has been denied, or has passively given up, the linguistic and intellectual tools to cope with complexity, to separate illusion from reality” Hedges (2009). If one looks at the bigger picture, literacy is essential for helping people obtain and retain employment, which is the key to moving them from dependency toward greater self-sufficiency. Unfortunately, he argues, “Functional illiteracy in North America is epidemic. [...] A culture dominated by images and slogan seduces those who are functionally literate but who make a choice to not read” Hedges (2009). By being complacent with the state of one’s conditions, that is how the cycle of oppression continues, which in turn, doesn’t help marginalized groups become liberated. It is all